Babari razing casts shadow on Ayodhya

Sanjay Pandey, Lucknow, Dec 5, 2012, DHNS:

The shadow of the recent communal violence that had rocked Faizabad at the time of immersion of Durga idols during Dussehra in October this year still haunts the people of the twin cities of Ayodhya and Faizabad.

Ayodhya observes the 20th anniversary of the Babari Masjid demolition on Thursday.

While the administration, not taking any chances, has turned the two cities virtually into a fortress with the deployment of security personnel near all important religious places, including the disputed site, the common people still appear to be apprehensive though they do feel that Ram temple is no longer an issue for the ordinary people in Ayodhya.

“The recent communal violence had been engineered by the anti-social elements…the common people here want peace and amity. For them earning bread and butter is more important,” said Yugal Kishore Saran Sastri, a resident of Ayodhya.

Speaking to Deccan Herald from Ayodhya, Sastri, one of the founder members of “Voice of Ayodhya,” also said the temple was “no longer an issue for the youth of the town”. “For the youth, career is more important than the Ram Temple,” he said.

Faizabad-based Helal Committee convenor Khalique Ahmed Khan, however, feels differently. “The issue of temple-mosque is not dead…it is alive very much. It is in the Supreme Court and all parties should either resolve it amicably or abide by the court verdict,” he said.

Khan, however, blames the district administration for the recent violence. “It was an organised attack on the Muslim establishment with the help of police and PAC personnel…it was one sided,’’ Khan said from Faizabad.

Members of both communities apprehend that there may be attempt to disrupt the communal amity and peace in the town.

Meanwhile, the administration has beefed up security arrangements in and around the cities and the disputed site. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) would be observe Thursday as ‘Sharuya Diwas’ while the Muslim organisations would be observing Black Day on the demolition anniversary.